Living of Love

I've probably talked about love on this blog more than anything. (With possible exceptions of Hebrew and my 5k training.) There's a reason. And it is this:

"Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, 'You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet.' and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law." -Romans 13:8-10

I don't know if I can properly articulate how important it is to love. I'll try. Colossians will help: "Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry...But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do no lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator... Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you must also forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony." (vs. 5,9-10,12-15)

Love is incompatible with these things that we must put off. Incompatible. The love that Jesus has placed in my heart cannot reside in the same place with slander and obscene talk, anger and lies--for those are not love. We are called to great love. We are commanded to love. That is what we are to do, what we are to be. 

Love is active, love is a way of life. Love is in our thoughts, words, and deeds. Love is thorough. Love is unconditional. I've been amazed at the love of others often. They just tell me they love me and treat me so kindly and fully care about me--and I just think how they barely know me-how can they love me? Yet they understand and live love. It is not about if they know someone. Their love for me is not based on them knowing me. (For then what, it is based on my traits and actions? Oh, for sometimes they are good, but sometimes, oh, all too often, they are bad.) It is just pure and unconditional. Real love's pretty amazing like that. 

Obviously, this is something I've been thinking on and learning a lot this semester. And it really really has changed me. It's honestly helping me, understanding love and its importance. It is not easy, because true love is selfless. And this is about what--who we are to be. Who we are to serve. Who we are to love. (E'rybody.) 

"If the days aren't easy and the nights are rough, When they ask you what you're thinking of, Say love, Say for me love." 

(Love me some Avett.)

"If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have  prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing." -1 Corinthians 13:1-2

--

Be gone, pride: Be full, heart.

Lately There's Been Love

I should be studying Hebrew, but I want to get something posted. I've had lots of ideas lately, just not as much time.

So what have I been doing instead of blogging?

• 5k training woooop! (should the "k" be capitalized?)
• Reading the first few pages of Augustine's Confessions. !!!!!! Hopefully I can write more about him later.
• Hebrew! I have big quizzes tomorrow to take. I should be studying. Why am I not? 1. I'm lazy 2. I'm feeling fairly confident. Whaaaattt??? I'll study after I write this and tomorrow before I test, no worries.
• Other homeworks, struggle bus-ing in Ancient, group project-ing in Globalization, and um... some Judaism (currently figuring out my final paper topic)
• MAKING NEW FRIENDS! It has been wonderful. In the past week, I've told 3 people I've wanted to be their friends. I'm so bold, it kinda scares me. Seriously.
• Eating way too much candy and other sugars. Oops.
• Being overwhelmed by the love of Christ in others. Another thing I will hopefully write more about later.

So, newest friend story! There's this girl who does the announcements on Wednesday night CCF services and I decided I was going to introduce myself sometime. (Boldness, you know.) Tonight, before service, we were both in the bathroom, and I was seriously going to introduce myself as soon as I washed my hands, and then she did it as I was washing my hands! Because we were both wearing sweatshirts and scarves, a typical outfit for both of us. :) Then in announcements she gave me a shout-out! After service, we met up, exchanged numbers and talked about warm drinks and I said I had wanted to be her friend. I can't even contain that stuff anymore apparently. Anyway, Sarah Perry and I are going to be friends. 

I read passages out loud from the Bible today! I actually really reallllyyy enjoyed it! I absolutely recommend it. Do it. It made me just love passages... Which is great, but as I was trying to find something for my talk at next week's Te Deum, it was also slightly frustrating--I can't talk about everything! Liking lots of the Bible is a good thing, though. :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qR3rK0kZFkg This is a gem.

http://www.jonacuff.com/stuffchristianslike/2011/11/hearing-your-name-for-the-first-time/ This also is really good.

Isaiah is goooood. Chapter 43 is good. As is 44. I read 43 and the first part of 44 earlier. Here is 44:1-5:

"But now hear, O Jacob my servant, Israel whom I have chosen! Thus says the Lord who made you, who formed you from the womb and will help you: Fear not, O Jacob my servant, Jeshurun whom I have chosen. For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon our offspring, and my blessing on your descendants. They shall spring up among the grass like willows by flowing streams. This one will say, 'I am the Lord's,' another will call on the name of Jacob, and another will write on his hand, 'The Lord's,' and name himself by the name of Israel."

I like that a lot.

Love.